Shrines

Enugu Shrine – Nigeria

Shrine – Republic of Congo

Shrine – Togo

In 2005, at the invitation of the then Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the Redemptorists arrived in the Enugu Diocese. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Iva Valley, located in Enugu Metropolitan City, was entrusted to them. Later, the Bishop granted the Redemptorists perpetual responsibility for the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Ugwogo Nike, Enugu. The shrine serves as a pilgrimage centre dedicated to the spiritual enrichment of people from all walks of life.

The Redemptorists are internationally known for their shrine ministries in countries such as Brazil, the Philippines, the United States, and Ireland, where shrines become centres of prayer, healing, and social outreach.

The Redemptorists face the major task of developing the National Shrine in Enugu. Their aims include

• promoting the spiritual growth of Catholic faithful and Christians of other denominations,
• spreading devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help,
• offering pilgrims and retreatants opportunities to share in Redemptorist spirituality,
• and fostering the growth of the Confraternity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help across Nigerian dioceses.

So far, temporary structures have been built to serve as both church and gathering hall for pilgrims. A dual carriage access road from the highway to the shrine has been completed, and a grotto housing the statue of Our Mother of Perpetual Help has recently been constructed. The shrine currently covers more than seventy-eight hectares of land, with hundreds of pilgrims visiting daily.

Future plans include building hostels for pilgrims, as many currently rely on temporary shelters due to lack of accommodation. There is also an urgent need to drill a borehole to provide potable water. To support these developments, the Redemptorists in Nigeria have launched a campaign to raise €1.3 million and invite generous support for this growing shrine ministry.